JaMarcus Russell, consensus #1 pick

#1
Vercingetorix

Vercingetorix

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#1
Okay. Almost all the experts now agree that Russell is most likely going to be the first guy taken in the draft. There's no question that the guy is supremely physically gifted. However, in his collegiate career he consistently demonstrated a knack for keeping opposing teams (e.g., UT 2006) in the game due to his own mistakes. Let's set aside that Al Davis is the guy with the #1 pick, because for all we know he might take another kicker. If you were an NFL GM, would you really take him first?
 
#2
#2
Vercingetorix said:
Okay. Almost all the experts now agree that Russell is most likely going to be the first guy taken in the draft. There's no question that the guy is supremely physically gifted. However, in his collegiate career he consistently demonstrated a knack for keeping opposing teams (e.g., UT 2006) in the game due to his own mistakes. Let's set aside that Al Davis is the guy with the #1 pick, because for all we know he might take another kicker. If you were an NFL GM, would you really take him first?
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If that happens I will be shocked. While Russell is big and has a rocket for an arm, like you said he is prone to making a lot of mistakes in judgement (like throwing approx. 1.2 million interceptions against Tennessee in his career). He has a huge upside potential, but a #1 overall pick is a little much imo.
 
#3
#3
hmanvolfan said:
If that happens I will be shocked. While Russell is big and has a rocket for an arm, like you said he is prone to making a lot of mistakes in judgement (like throwing approx. 1.2 million interceptions against Tennessee in his career). He has a huge upside potential, but a #1 overall pick is a little much imo.
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I don't know if he's worthy of #1 pick, but I still think that's where he'll be drafted. Al Davis wants a QB with a big arm to sling the ball downfield to Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. Nobody can throw it deeper than Jamarcus Russell.
 
#4
#4
If I was the Raiders' GM, I'd take a long, hard look at every trade opportunity I have with this pick.

IMO, the best 2 players in the draft are Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson...the Raiders don't need a wideout...and, while Jordan and Fargas aren't probowlers, they combine to make a decent backfield in Oakland.

A quick glance at the Oakland depth chart and it's obvious they need a qb, but there's not a qb worth taking #1 in this draft...if the Raiders can't make a good trade for the pick, it'll be Russell taken #1 overall.
 
#5
#5
Does anyone really believe that Russell is a better long term NFL prospect than Skeletor or Magilla Gorilla?
 
#6
#6
IMO, JaMarcus Russell is a probable early pick(possibly first), but will have a QB starting career of less than 5 seasons.
 
#7
#7
hatvol96 said:
Does anyone really believe that Russell is a better long term NFL prospect than Skeletor or Magilla Gorilla?
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Skeletor FTW.

You have to look at the question with the reality of the situation in mind. There's clearly a reason you're picking first. Go with what you need. If you need a skill position, go with that. If you need to build an offensive line, draft for value and trade for linemen, etc. Then, how do you determine value? What is the value of a QB to a team that needs one, or a RB, or a WR, etc. to team that really need them?

IMO Calvin Johnson has the highest value of anyone in this draft, considering he's probably one of the most physically gifted to ever play the college game. A big trend in the NFL is still big, fast receivers to stretch out a defense. CJ is exactly that, plus a fantastic set of hands.
 
#9
#9
Vercingetorix said:
Okay. Almost all the experts now agree that Russell is most likely going to be the first guy taken in the draft. There's no question that the guy is supremely physically gifted. However, in his collegiate career he consistently demonstrated a knack for keeping opposing teams (e.g., UT 2006) in the game due to his own mistakes. Let's set aside that Al Davis is the guy with the #1 pick, because for all we know he might take another kicker. If you were an NFL GM, would you really take him first?
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He is no number one IMO.
 
#10
#10
My biggest knock on the guy is how he has played less than stellar in big games. He choked in the UF game and struggled mightily against Auburn. But what big games has Brady Quinn won? If the Raiders keep the pick, they have to take him, IMO. They wouldn't want to waste another top 5 pick on an OL (how is Gallery working out?), they have bigger needs than RB, and since the WRs are supposedly staying in Oakland, Johnson isn't an option. It comes down to Russell and Quinn, and to me, Russell fits their needs and has much more upside than Quinn.
 
#11
#11
utfantilidie said:
He is no number one IMO.
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Me either. He's got a tremendous upside, that's for sure, but he made so many boneheaded plays during his college career that I can't see him as anything but a risk. He could be a great QB, or he could be out of the league in a few years. He's a little to risky for me to consider taking with the #1 pick; you've got to get a great player when you pick first, not a project.

But still, the ESPN folks wax lyrically about his physical gifts, but say nothing about his decision-making. Maybe they don't watch as much SEC football as most of us do.
 
#12
#12
Vercingetorix said:
Me either. He's got a tremendous upside, that's for sure, but he made so many boneheaded plays during his college career that I can't see him as anything but a risk. He could be a great QB, or he could be out of the league in a few years. He's a little to risky for me to consider taking with the #1 pick; you've got to get a great player when you pick first, not a project.

But still, the ESPN folks wax lyrically about his physical gifts, but say nothing about his decision-making. Maybe they don't watch as much SEC football as most of us do.
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Boneheaded plays = Al Davis
 
#13
#13
daw77 said:
It comes down to Russell and Quinn, and to me, Russell fits their needs and has much more upside than Quinn.
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The best-case scenario for Quinn is that he becomes one of these guys who bounces around from team to team, sometimes starting and sometimes being a backup. Kind of a Drew Bledsoe type. The best-case scenario for Russell is that he becomes one of the best quarterbacks in the league. However, Russell's flame-out potential seems much higher.

This is a tough pick for the Raiders because they need a QB, but none of the QBs in this draft are really #1 material. Calvin Johnson's easily worth the first pick, but they don't need a WR. I'm with Jaytrain5 -- if I'm Al Davis, I think really hard about trading down a few slots.
 
#15
#15
Vercingetorix said:
The best-case scenario for Quinn is that he becomes one of these guys who bounces around from team to team, sometimes starting and sometimes being a backup. Kind of a Drew Bledsoe type. The best-case scenario for Russell is that he becomes one of the best quarterbacks in the league. However, Russell's flame-out potential seems much higher.

This is a tough pick for the Raiders because they need a QB, but none of the QBs in this draft are really #1 material. Calvin Johnson's easily worth the first pick, but they don't need a WR. I'm with Jaytrain5 -- if I'm Al Davis, I think really hard about trading down a few slots.
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Yeah, it would make sense to trade down, but Al Davis won't do it for that exact reason...it makes too much sense. Even if he does shop the pick, I think his asking price would be through the roof, way too high for any team to think twice about it.
 
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